During the Fifth sitting of the Public Accounts Committee in respect of queries raised in the Auditor General’s Report for 2023, Auditors were on Monday 20/01/2025 given a freehand by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to verify 33 staff from the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) and report to the Public Accounts Committee on the number of staff that have been physically verified.

In the words of the Auditors, the physical verification of the numbered staff has been substantially resolved.

Consequently, the Public Accounts Committee has told the verified staff that the issue has been resolved and that they should go and continue to work for the Government of Sierra Leone.

Issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report, the Public Accounts Committee noted are inconclusive until they are heard and determined by the PAC. Therefore, the PAC stated that its work is an extension of the audit process before it could reach a logical conclusion. Following an order from the PAC, the staff in question have now been verified.

Regarding queries on the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, the Public Accounts Committee grilled officials from the said Ministry and expressed their dissatisfaction over its poor handling of stores at Kissy and the distribution of agricultural tools and implements to support the Government’s flagship programme, “feed salone”. Pictures of machines were displayed including harrowing, power tillers and combined harvesters, bought by Government but were never distributed and utilized for its intended purpose, thus a huge waste of government’s much needed resources.

The Public Accounts Committee has also ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to present three vehicles in question to Parliament on Wednesday 22/01/2025 for audit inspection and verification.

Hearings on the Auditor General’s Report for the financial year 2023 continues tomorrow.

Credit: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department